2017 GSEM Gun Dog Chalenge

In the months leading up to the first Gun Dog Challenge of the year, there isn’t a whole lot of time to think about photography. When you are the one responsible for making the show happen, there are a lot of factors to think about other than pictures of the event. Still, I find that good images are the best marketing tool for any event, so I do make an effort to grab a few while the event is going on. It also allows me to walk the field and see how things are going.

On March 18, the Greater Southeast MI chapter of RGS held its annual Gun Dog Challenge. It was a slick snowy wet morning, but the show must go on. Despite having to make several changes to the schedule, we pushed through and made it happen. Given the juggling of the morning schedule, I was not able to grab too many images. I did try to get some video, and now I need to figure out what to do with it. I can shoot video, but I really am pretty dumb at editing it.

The weather cleared by afternoon, and I was able to be in the field a little more. By the end of the day, spirits were up, and it appeared that everyone had a great time.

Because this is “my” event, all digital images are just $5. And, all money made from this event will go back into the Gun Dog Challenge coffers to help make these events possible. Don’t be shy…

[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”36″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_pro_thumbnail_grid” override_thumbnail_settings=”0″ thumbnail_width=”150″ thumbnail_height=”110″ thumbnail_crop=”1″ images_per_page=”20″ border_size=”1″ border_color=”#cccccc” spacing=”2″ number_of_columns=”0″ ngg_triggers_display=”never” ngg_proofing_display=”1″ captions_enabled=”0″ captions_display_sharing=”1″ captions_display_title=”1″ captions_display_description=”1″ captions_animation=”slideup” is_ecommerce_enabled=”1″ order_by=”filename” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

Visit the Photo Album Only

A Fresh Start

Well, it has been a long time coming, but it had to happen. It’s time for a fresh start.

On March 10, 2012, I purchased the domain www.sportdogphoto.com. I knew absolutely zero about websites, and was relying on the experience of a couple good friends to get me started. Being that I had no clue what I was doing, and that there was going to be a learning curve to building a website, it was decided at the time to build the site under a sub domain, and then transfer it to the primary once I had everything in place. I’m sure that some of you noticed that when you went to my site, the domain was newsite.sportdogphoto.com.

As time passed and I took longer than expected to get everything set, I began to build pretty good search ratings on the “temporary” domain. Even when I had things at a comfortable place, I wasn’t sure how to move my content over to the proper domain. Ergo 2017. 5 years is enough and it was now time to make this happen. I decided that since I was going to have to basically rebuild my site at the new domain, that I might as well give it a fresh look while I am at it.

And, here we are. I like simplicity and ease of use. I try not to over infosize(yeah, just made that up) my visitors, and let them get to the places they want to go. I hope that this new site provides the necessary content that people are looking for, while still engaging new visitors.

So, whats new? Well, not a whole lot is exactly new. I have fresh home page that while similar to the old, has a cleaner menu and allows the viewer to browse the images uninhibited by the menu or content. I am constantly building my collection of images available for stock commercial and editorial use. I have so many images on so many drives, it will take some time to go through them all and get them loaded on the server. I will also be adding new images as I go.

I am also hoping to be a little better at keeping this blog stocked with fresh content. What that will be, I haven’t quite decided yet. Leave a comment below, and let me know if there are any subjects you would like to read about. I am thinking besides covering events, I may also cover some general photography tips, thoughts, and occasional rants.

All in all, this is the right step to be taking. I hope you will continue to help make Sport Dog Photography the go to service for all your dog, hunting, and outdoor photography needs.

2015 Year End Review for Sport Dog Photo

It really has been a great year for Sport Dog Photography. There are still many things that I would like to be doing to further my business, but this year has brought me many growth opportunities. The intent of this post isn’t to bore you with wordy details, rather to highlight some of the things that have taken place in 2015. I was fortunate to be able to expand into some new areas this year, and also was able to see many familiar faces, as well. If you take the time to read to the end, there is even a little surprise that most of you don’t know about….But you’ll just have to keep reading to find out.

Probably the biggest achievement for me was making my business official. In January, I filed for my LLC. I had been putting it off for a while, as I had been running the business through an older company. Now, the photo business is officially Sport Dog Photography LLC. Nothing really changes for most of my clients, but it makes things easier for me, and adds a layer of protection.

The spring started off pretty typical with a few RGS events. It is always fun to get out int he field with old friends, and make a few new ones along the way.

Toward the middle of 2014, I was asked to shoot the 2015 Michigan Sporting Clays Championship, by Michigan Shooting Centers. It was great to be able to see some of the pros doing their thing on the course. It is hard to be creative when watching basically the same thing over and over, but those are the situations that make you better, and keep you thinking. I would love to pick up a few more events like this, in the future.

As fall approached, I had lined up a few different hunts, including my first waterfowl hunt. While grouse and upland hunting are what I love to do, I am also equally drawn to the duck blind. The nature of duck hunting lends to certain challenges for a photographer, but I welcome them all, and adjusted as needed.

Of course there is there is grouse season. And, while I may not get to hunt as much as I would like, I consider each step into the woods a blessing, and whether I am carrying the gun or the camera, I am creating memories.

This year was the first time that I decided to publish a calendar. I have toyed with the idea in the past, but wasn’t really sure who would want it. I created one this year primarily as a “thank-you” for some of my clients. I then put the remaining prints online for sale. To my surprise, I sold out in about a week. I have more in stock now, so if you are reading this and want one, I still have a few left. Below are some of the images in the 2016 SDP Calendar. Follow the link to purchase one for yourself.

And now, if you have been looking through this post only looking forward to this big secret project, well here it is. Since I started doing photography professionally, I have always told people that I don’t shoot wedding or babies. Well that still holds true for the most part. I prefer shooting events, dogs, and hunting. It’s what I feel I am good at, and what I have chosen to focus on. I was approached by a friend early in the year wondering if I would be willing to shoot her wedding. I said no, and gave them some options of other photographers that I feel do an excellent job of capturing weddings. Apparently she wasn’t going to take no for an answer, and eventually I agreed to take on the task. As I said up front, I think it is important to try new things as a photographer. It keeps your mind fresh, and makes you think beyond what your are comfortable with. So, that being said, I did it! They were looking for a photojournalistic style of coverage, and I felt that I could provide that. I will admit, when it come to posed shots, I struggled, but the rest fo the weekend felt pretty natural. I was honored to be a part of their special day.

Am I a wedding photographer now? NO. Would I do it again given the right circumstance? Maybe. Was I pleased with the outcome? Yes. So, you be the judge, or better yet, keep your negative comments to yourself…just kidding…sort of.

Ehde Wedding Photo Highlights

Thanks for taking a look at my year end review. I look forward to seeing many of you again in the coming year. I have a couple things already lined up for 2016, so if you are thinking of booking and event or shoot, please contact me soon. I am hoping for an even better 2016.

New Puppy in the Sport Dog Family

If you follow my Facebook page, you probably have seen that there is a new puppy in the Sport Dog family. My brother-in-law brought home the latest edition on Friday. Unofficially at this point, he will be registered as “Fair’s Lost in D’Nile” call name “Moses”. They picked out the name Moses, I coined the registered name. We shall see if it sticks. Yesterday, I was able to get some formal shots of the little guy.

I am looking forward to seeing how this little guy turns out as a duck dog. We will be getting him started early and get lots of practical training in. But for now, he just needs to learn how to sleep through the night.

If you have plans to bring home your newest family member, or have a new puppy that you would like shots of, please contact me. It is always fun to capture the unexpected moments of young dog just getting its legs.

Important Changes for Sport Dog Photography

If you are not signed up to receive emails from Sport Dog Photo, here is the latest with some important information that you might be interested in.

Hi everyone-

Hope this email doesn’t find you going too crazy from this long cold February. A lot has been going on behind the scenes here, even though not much has been happing in the field, lately.

First off, if you haven’t heard, I have officially incorporated Sport Dog Photography LLC. It was a long time coming, but needed to happen. It really doesn’t affect too many people, but just less confusing than running everything through my old company.

Also, over the past couple years, I have been using a 3rd party website to sell images online. While it is convenient, and has quite a few options, it is not cheap. Between paying for the service, and the fees they charge, I came to realize it was costing me almost 50% of sales. I have also found some great partner labs that I now work with directly. They provide outstanding quality and great customer service. I also get much better pricing through them, which in turn allows me to adjust some of my pricing options. This brings me to the part that may benefit many of you. I will be closing down the 3rd party website by the middle of May. This means that all of the albums that I have made available over the past 3 years will be going away permanently. The benefit? I will be offering ALL images from events over the past 3 years at a substantial discount through the middle of May. Sure, it will mean a hit to me, but I wanted everyone to have a chance to grab any images that you may have previously put off purchasing. There are no codes or coupons. All prices are already cut. Many by as much as 50%.

Looking forward, I will be transitioning to new software built into my main website to display and sell images. This will allow me greater freedom to take care of the processing myself, and ensure higher quality, and a better customer experience. That being said, most of the old albums will no longer be available after May 20, 2015. Sure, I still have all those images locked away on hard drives, but there are over 12,000 images on the old site, and I just can’t get all those transferred over efficiently. I will probably post a couple of the more recent events, and will be putting all new events on the new platform.

I cannot thank all of you enough for the support of this venture over the past 3 years. I purchased the domain “www.sportdogphoto.com” on March 10, 2012. Since then, I have had the great pleasure of meeting so many of you, and getting to know your pets. I look forward to many more years of being able to serve you in various capacities.

Here are some links to help you get started. RGS Events HRC Events NSTRA Events ALPA Events UAD Events BDC Events There are a few more albums on there, including any private albums that you may have. All private albums will also be taken offline. Again, I do still have all of the images on file, they will just not be readily available after May.

Also, I just want to let you know that I am already booking events for this spring and summer. I only have a limited number of weekend dates available, so if you have an event coming up that you would like me to shoot, please contact me soon. I am looking forward to some new shooting experiences this year, and hopefully I can add a few more. If you would like to book a portrait shoot or private hunt shoot, I also have dates available for those as well. Just contact me and we can discuss the details.

Again, thank you to all of you for the huge support.

Dave

Pulling the Wool – Border Collies Working

Normally when someone wants shots taken of their dog(s), they are looking for your standard portrait, or a dog on point or some other creative pose. The reality is, most of my contacts are hunting dogs, and people want to remember their dog doing what it does best.

A couple weeks ago, I was privileged to be able to shoot a few border collies at work. These dogs live to herd sheep. If you have one, and don’t let it work out its natural abilities, you are doing yourself and the dog an injustice.

When I was approached about this shoot, I really could not wait to just go witness these dogs at work. Even had I not been able to photograph it, I still would have gladly made the trip to watch non-hunting breeds doing what they love to do. The first dog I got to watch was named Emmy. She is a ball of energy and she loves those sheep. She would barely approach me when I met her at her home, but once she saw me in the pasture, she decided I was alright.

It really was amazing to see a dog so dedicated to its craft, that it would barely take its eyes off of the sheep even for a moment. Even when taking a break, you could tell that she just wanted to get back to herding those sheep.

Well, it turned out that Emmy has a littermate sister that likes to work sheep as well, and with her came her brother and older sister who also wanted their time in front of the camera to show off their skills. I was more than willing to stay in the field and watch each dog put on their display of talent. First up was Wren. With the same energy as her sister, she immediately took command of the flock.

Next Moss hit the field. He immediatly made wide sweep along the border of the field to “sneak” up on the sheep. He is an incredibly intense dog, and kept his purposeful low stance the entire time.

Finally there was Abby. She is an older dog that moves a touch slower, but when she works the field, you would never know her age. She was the friendly one, and even came back to walk with me out of the field when we were finished.

This truly was quite the experience. I really hope I get the chance to go back and see it again. On a side note, it was humorous to watch all the cars along 119 pull off the road and get out and watch as each do worked the flock. I really can’t blame them, though.

The Gear Bag

As do most photographers, I often get asked about my camera equipment. You know, the usuals; How far does that thing zoom in? How much does that cost? I’m thinking of getting a new camera, what should I get? How good of pictures does that thing take?…and the like.

Well, as do most other photographers, I will attempt to answer some of these questions, and give you an insight in to my gear bag.

The Big Two

First off, you need to know that I am a Canon guy. I have nothing against Nikon, in fact, my rifle scope is a Nikon, and I think the optics are the best in the business. I just started shooting Canon years ago, and have never switched away. I really like the way it performs, and their glass is really good. I have had several generations of Canon cameras and lenses, and the progression has been easy for me.

My Photography History

I began taking pictures at a very early age. And usually, they weren’t of people. I liked to document the strange things I would find. As I hit high school, it was a natural progression to start taking photography classes as soon as I could. I had a great teacher, and as I progressed, he was fairly critical of my work. I learned a lot from him, and I still use a lot of what I learned today. I also was the photo editor for a couple years on the yearbook staff. Not a big accomplishment, but I did get to do things like shoot sports and other activities. Again, I have never liked taking pictures of people, but that was part of the job.

After my junior year of high school, I saved my pennies, and purchased my first “nice” camera. For the time, it had some pretty nice features, like auto focus, electronic controls, and auto exposure/speed. Pretty snazzy for a 35mm film setup. I continued my photography classes through my senior year in the form of independent studies. I spent a lot of time in the dark room and learned a lot about lighting and exposure techniques, as well as composition and subject selection. I was also the adjunct sub for the underclassmen photography classes on occasion. Not my given choice, but you do what needs to be done when you are “working” for the teacher.

After high school, I took a lot of landscape and nature photos, just trying to keep up on what I liked to do. I also did a few events such as golf outings, and banquets. I even shot one wedding for a friend. That solidified what I already knew…I am not a wedding photographer. Good for the experience, I guess. A few years later, my camera decided that it wasn’t going to work any more. I really don’t know why, but it worked one minute, and the next time I pulled it out, it didn’t. At that time, the digital technology was starting to be mainstream, and I didn’t have the money to purchase that, but I also didn’t want to invest in new film equipment. There it sat. A camera bag full of stuff that did nothing for many years. I contemplated selling it a few times, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.

Fast forward 10 years or so. With the old equipment still in a now dust covered Tamarac bag, I decided that I would begin the process of researching the world of digital single lens reflex cameras. DSLR’s to most people. What better way to justify the purchase of one, than buying one for your wife for Christmas? While my old lenses were still usable on the new equipment, I had a couple new lenses to choose from, and the freedom to take as many pictures as I could without changing film. It felt good to be using a “real” camera again. Now, I just needed find excuses to use it. Well, I did, when I was asked to shoot an RGS fun trial. It was kind of like riding a bike. Everything just came back naturally. After that, things kind of fell into place for me, and I was able to take this gig semi-pro.

Gear History

Photo Credit: Ken Rockwell

When I was starting out, my dad had purchased a Canon AE-1 at a pawn shop that came with a couple of lenses. One of which was a Sears lens, yep, Sears made lenses at some point. The important lens was the 50mm 1.4. Still a great lens in any generation. I took a lot of pictures with that camera, and using a manual camera really forces you to learn the basics of photography.

My first camera purchase was a Canon EOS Elan. Such a great camera for its time. I purchased a 28-80 and a 70-300 with that. I was able to cover a lot of bases with this rig. I really wish it still worked, as I would throw some film in it periodically, and shoot B&W just for fun.

Photo Credit: dpreview.com

When I decided to take the first step into the digital world, I bought a Canon Rebel T2i. Not really knowing about modern equipment, I shopped around and bought what I thought was the best in my budget range. I bought a combo kit which included another 18-55 and a 55-250, both with Image stabilization. All seemed legit to me at the time, and it worked pretty well. Still does, for the right things. I eventually sold the two kit lenses and purchased on lens that can cover a wider range. The 18-125 is what my wife still uses on “her” camera. After getting a few events under my belt, I quickly realized I was going to need better equipment.

The first piece of my current puzzle that I purchased was the Canon 7d. A lot of factors went into this decision. It is very fast, water proof, and has the same control configurations of the pro bodies. While I would like to be in the realm of full frame pro cameras, this one has far more features that fit my style of shooting that you don’t find on “lower-end” pro bodies. To get the same features on a full frame camera I would have to spend many thousands of dollars, which is not possible at this time. Besides, you have to have goals…right?

My next step was to purchase some professional glass. Most people shooting the average camera do not notice small detail flaws in their images, but I do, and the only way to correct this is with high quality lenses. My first purchase was a 70-200 f4 L IS. This is by far one of the best lenses that Canon makes, and to this day, I haven’t seen the quality images that this lens produces. Unfortunately, the f4 wasn’t quite what I need for a lot of the conditions that I shoot from.(By the way, this one is for sale if you are interested…just let me know)

My next purchase was a 24-105 f4 L IS. This is a great all round carry lens that covers a multitude of situations. It is on my camera 90% of the time, and works great.

When it came time to upgrade the zoom lens, I went to the 70-200 f2.8 L IS. Pretty much an industry standard, this lens really performs well in all conditions. The image quality isn’t quite that of the f4, but it really is a great lens. This one will be in the bag for a long time. 3 lbs of glass plus 1.5 lbs of camera can be quite heavy, though…so….

One of the most important equipment purchases I have made is my Black Rapid strap. For the photographer on the move, this really is a must.

I do all of my post production editing in Lightroom 5 and some additional work in Photoshop CS5. I use a Macbook Pro for everything.

Of course, I have to have a bag that holds all this, so I use a Lowpro backpack style gear bag.

The Wish List

Some day, when I am a rich and famous photographer(yep), there are some equipment upgrades and additions I would like to do.

The first one will be the Canon 16-35 f2.8 L. I shoot in a lot of low light close range situations. This lens will cover a lot of those. Hefty price tag, but will be worth it.

My pie-in-the-sky purchase would be a Canon 1Dx. The bad-boy of all cameras, this really is the best camera for an all weather sports photographer. At $6700, it may be a long while before I get my hands on this one. A really, really long while.

The last thing I think I want is a 2x extension tube for my 70-200. There are times I would like to get a little closer in on my subjects, and this would help. Mostly, this would be for wildlife shooting and such.

Update 2016:

Canon 5d mkiii

Canon 7d mk ii

Canon 16-35 2.8L v1

Canon 24-70 2.8L v2

Canon 70-200 2.8 v1

Canon 2x Extender

FAQ

Here are some answers to the questions above.

1. How far does that thing zoom in?

While the 70-200 can have an ominous presence, it really is not a “long range” lens. It does cover distances of up to 30 yards really well. For close range sports, this is a must have lens.

2. I’ll bet that camera takes great pictures, doesn’t it?

In a word, no. It’s the who behind the camera that takes great pictures. The actual image quality of my camera is really not that much better than my T2i. They both have a similar sensor that shoots 18mp. My current body has better processors, but those really do not make great images, either.

3. I’m thinking of purchasing a camera, what should I get?

Good question. There are so many factors that go into buying a camera that is right for you. What, where, when, how, and why will you be shooting? Write the answers to those questions down, and then ask the first question. I usually tell people, “buy the best you can afford right now, and then invest in better glass before a better camera body.” If you have the answers to those questions, feel free to contact me, and I will be glad to discuss my thoughts with you.

4. I would like to start taking more pictures, so I’m going to get a good camera. Will that help?

Again, NO! Go learn the fundamentals of photography, first. While todays digital cameras are a genius in a small box, you absolutely need to know the basics first. Take a class, read tutorials, read blogs, and then practice, practice, practice. Like anything else in life, you need to gain experience before playing in the big game.

5. How much did that cost?

Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t cheap, but to get the best quality, the price cannot be a factor. Well, sort of, but you have to buy the best you can afford. If you plan to make money with your equipment, you need to be investing in the best.

I hope this was informative, and gives you some insight into what I have going on in the background. Do you have any other questions for me? Fell free to ask in the comment section below, so that others can see the answers.

An Upswing for SDP

As it turns out, the first weekend in October 2013 would be an upswing for SPD and my upland bird hunting “career”. Several months back, I was invited to attend and shoot the Al Litzenberger RGS chapters banquet and sponsor grouse hunt. I am quick to jump at opportunities to work with different RGS chapters, so I accepted the invitation gratefully.

On my way up to Harbor Springs, where the banquet was to take place, I took advantage of a couple hours in the woods on the way up. I stopped on some state land where I had hunted once before. Last year, the area held a decent number of grouse, so I figured that would be a good place to hit for a short hunt. As the dog and I made our way through, it quickly became apparent that the grouse were not here as in the year before. The rain was also picking up, and not making for an enjoyable stop. My dog doesn’t get a whole lot of time in the woods, so I wanted to give him a fair chance to find some birds. We only flushed on woodcock, which he had a solid find on a running bird and made a rather impressive retrieve, given his history. Not bad for a quick run through the water logged upland.

That evening, I attended the Petoskey chapter banquet. It was a great event, and lots of money was raised for successional forrest habitat. I did have the chance to meet and have a conversation with John Eichinger, the president of the Ruffed Grouse Society. He is a great guy with a great vision for the future of the organization.

The following morning, I met up with the group I was to head into the field with for the day. I had picked up John E. on the way to our morning hunt. We convened at place called Maple River Farm. This is a large tract of private property situated in northern Emmett county, that has been carefully planned out by owner Paul Keiswetter. We entered a building on the property dubbed ‘Grouse Hall’. This is a beautifully and meticulously built hunters dream lodge. No detail has been left unaccounted for. We met up with Paul, Keith Creagh(Michigan DNR Director), and Rex Schlaybaugh(NRC commissioner) for the mornings hunt.

Grouse Hunt Blog Lodge-2

The rain had not let up from the night before, so we took time to tour Paul’s facility, and learn about the history of the farm and what has done there to manage for grouse and woodcock habitat. As the morning went on, the rain let up a bit, and we decided to take to the field. Making our way back through the property, we drove past a couple of the areas that Paul had worked with Al Stewart on, in his efforts to create sustainable upland habitat.

We parked the trucks, donned our hunting gear, and loaded the guns(and camera). Paul guided us through a small patch of mixed young growth, with his setter energetically leading the way. The rain had let up, the the under brush was wet, but navigable. It wasn’t long before the dog had found point, and a bird took to the air. With a quick miss, we carried on. The birds were plentiful, and there were lots of chances for hits and misses. In total, we put up about 14 woodcock, and 8 grouse in a 1.5 hour hunt. They even bagged a couple of those to brag about later. I was able to grab some great photos of both the hunting party and even some birds.

As noon approached, the rest of the hunters were headed to Grouse Hall for lunch, so we packed up and headed back to the lodge. Lunch was great, and it is especially gratifying to have a big bowl of hot chili after a soggy hunt.

That afternoon, a large portion of the hunters embarked on a tour of the property that we had hunted, and go to see first hand the fruits of sound habitat management. The tour was led by Al Stewart, who escorted the party around. I was offered to trade the camera for the gun, and head out into the woods with our regional director Bruce Wojcik and a guy from the chapter named Dennis.

They made the call to put Corbin(AKA Special) on the ground for the afternoon. I warned them that he is not a champion hunting dog, so I wouldn’t take responsibility for his antics. However, he surprised me and went right to work. We don’t hunt with groups too often, so I had no idea what to expect. Rather soon into our hunt he put up a pair of woodcock. I shot one, and he retrieved it. I was feeling better about his performance already. He proceeded to put up 15 WC in a short 2 hour hunt. We shot 3 in total, and made our way to the trucks to ready ourselves for the dinner that evening. I was proud of the old hound and how he handled that afternoon. We parted the field just in time to miss the heavy downpour that continued on into the evening.

That night, everyone in the hunting party were treated to a wonderful wild game dinner at Chandlers in downtown Petoskey. It was the celebration of a successful days hunt, combined with the fellowship of those who were like minded in their commitment to preserving our hunting heritage and habitat management. I was honored to be able to be a part of the day. Thank you to everyone for allowing me to tag along and document this fantastic adventure.

The next morning I headed out early, and met a couple friends for breakfast before heading out to give one last good effort at bagging a grouse that weekend. We drove down state for a while, and finally pulled off on a 2-track the had a small aspen stand adjacent. Once again, Corbin was invited to hit the ground, this time with a couple seasoned grouse dogs. Again I was nervous, as he doesn’t have a whole lot of experience working with other dogs. The first area produced a couple birds, but no shots. We quickly moved on to the next, with no luck there either. At the third spot, we saw one WC but were still empty handed. We ended the day empty handed, and sweating profusely from the now warm humid weather.

I wasn’t complaining, as I had one of the best bird hunting weekend of my life. I really hope this is the start of an annual tradition in my schedule.

The Game- NSTRA

They call it ‘the game’. Many of the hunting dog clubs out there are all about the individual achievement of each animal. While you may sometimes run with another dog and handler, you are competing for an overall win. NSTRA field trials are run a little different. The National Shoot to Retrieve Association is all about beating your opponent on the field. Each successful bird find and retrieve is worth points. You have one goal, and that is to find the birds before your brace mate does, in a half hour. Of course, getting to the bird first is just the start. From there you need to have near flawless dog handling if you want to earn the points. NSTRA is fast paced, and shows off the best a dog has to offer. The dog-handler relationship has to be finely tuned. To win, a dog has to be on its game, and it has to be consistent. The handler too, must manage their dog in a way that lets the judges know that they are in control, but are not controlling. You can read all of the rules HERE.

This past weekend at the NSTRA Michigan Regional Elimination, the heat was on. 34 dogs started the day on Saturday. By days end, there were only 6 left to compete. It is amazing how much emotions, good and bad, can flair when competition at this level unfolds. On Sunday morning, the 6 finalists ran 3 braces to determine the the top dogs of the region. Out of 6 came 4: 3 runner ups, and a champion. Out of those 4, 2 dogs compete in the “big dance” so-to-speak. The final run of the day is between the two top scoring dogs of the semi-final round. This brace run for one hour, and 10 birds are placed in the field. Only one dog-handler team can be crowned regional champion.

This year’s NSTRA Michigan Region Champion is Chip run by Scott Townsend. Chip is a stellar dog, and a staunch hunter. Chip is also the most affectionate dog I have ever seen. When he is not slamming on point, he is curled up in someone’s lap, or pawing at your leg for a scratch on the head. Congratulations Chip. You have a well deserved win.

Just because there is one winner, doesn’t mean that other dogs were lacking. I saw some fantastic dog work this weekend. This was a tough field, for sure. But like i said, this is a game, and there can will prevail.

I personally had a great time this weekend. Even though this was my third NSTRA event, I learned a lot about the game. I rode with a judge the whole time, end was able to gain insight into how things are supposed to go, and what he was looking for. I also would like to thank my hosts for the weekend, Chris Ritter, Mike Kibby, and Scott Townsend. I look forward to my next opportunity to shoot a NSTRA event.

Click on a link below to view the full album and purchase images. If I did not get very many, or any pictures of your dog(or quality ones), I apologize Because of the level of competition, I had to stay in the Ranger with the judge to shoot, and was not able to always capture both dogs in the field. If you would ever be interested in having professional hunting scenario portraits taken of your dog(s), please contact me.

Ultimate Air Dogs…Photography Lesson Learned

While attending Outdoorama this weekend, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to grab some shots at the Ultimate Air Dogs competition. Of course I wasn’t the only photog there, because, who doesn’t want to get shots of dogs jumping into water, right? Well, I had to learn my lesson the hard way, but I am not set up for shooting fast action in low light situations. Of the few shots that I did get to turn out, they were grainy, and not what I was hoping for. Using a flash wasn’t an option, but given my equipment, I’m not really sure what I could have done differently. Oh, well. I had a good time watching, and even ran into a couple competitors that I have met through different dog venues.

Tag: photography

The Big Two

My Photography History

Gear History

The Wish List

FAQ